What fascinates us about the Lebes Gamikos
Few ancient forms combine so much festivity with such poise. The Lebes Gamikos seems as though it were made for a special moment, and that is exactly what it was: In ancient Athens, it was one of the most beautiful gifts a bride could receive.
The distinctive shape
A round, bulbous body on a foot, a wide opening, a lid with a knob. And then the handles: they rise vertically and give the form its upright, almost ceremonial silhouette. It is precisely this contrast between soft curves and clear vertical lines that makes the Lebes Gamikos so distinctive.
The XENIOS Lebes Gamikos
Our reinterpretation retains the distinctive handles and the fitted lid, translating the form into a ceramic jar made from high-quality stoneware and finished with contemporary glazes. On a set table, it holds chocolates, truffles, or confections; with espresso, fine pastries; on the dresser, jewelry and small treasures. And true to its origins, it is a gift with meaning. Handcrafted in Germany.
A look back
The name reveals the story: Lebes means cauldron, gamos wedding. A Greek wedding lasted three days. On the third day, the gifts were presented, and the Lebes Gamikos was one of the typical ones. Vase painters of the 5th century BC decorated it with wedding scenes, with Eros and Aphrodite. Significant examples are now preserved by the Antikensammlung Berlin, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Museum in Athens.
A form that was made to share joy from the very beginning. This is hospitality in the sense of Zeus Xenios, who gave our name its origin.